The Perfect Gift

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘All fine, love. How’s poor Liv?’

  ‘Poor Liv seems to think that all the woes of the world are resting on her shoulders. She’ll come out of it, but I’d let her sleep tonight and talk to her in the morning.’

  ‘Oh dear. Is she in terrible pain? I’d say she’s miserable without the children and with Martin so far away. God love her. It’s not what I’d wish for her. I’ll go in first thing in the morning. A bit of TLC is what she needs. Poor little love.’

  Róisín said she’d call her mother in the morning and hung up. How was her mum so kind and thoughtful all the time? She did nothing but think of her family. She worried, forgave, minded and encouraged all the time without faltering. That, Róisín mused, is what being a mother is all about.

  Clicking onto the hospital’s Wi-Fi, she typed an e-mail to the fertility clinic in France.

  ‘Thanks Mum,’ she whispered as she pushed through the revolving door. ‘You’ve helped me make up my mind.’

  Chapter 23

  The following morning Róisín prepared for her meeting at the bank and set off nervously.

  But there was no need to worry. As it turned out, the meeting was all she’d hoped it would be. Róisín could barely contain herself as she drove back to Ballyshore. She rang her parents to give them the good news.

  ‘Hold on and I’ll put your father on,’ Keeley said excitedly. ‘He’s dying to know how you got on.’

  Doug was full of encouragement. ‘Get your pieces of paper in order before you approach Mr Grace. Take your quote from the estate agent and all your reports from the QS along with your offer letter and deliver it by hand,’ he advised. ‘It’s essential to be official and businesslike with your paperwork, but a bit of personality is always the icing on the cake.’

  ‘Thanks Dad,’ she said. ‘Any news from Liv?’

  ‘Not a thing our end. Your mother went into the hospital earlier, but Liv was fast asleep and she didn’t want to wake her. The children are fine though. We’re going to build a nice wooden sand-box. It’ll give us all a little project. I’ll take them to the builder’s suppliers for wood and the bags of sand.’

  ‘Ah they’ll love that,’ Róisín grinned, knowing it was Granddad who’d enjoy it the most.

  Róisín arrived back in Ballyshore and checked in with Brigid to make sure everything was running smoothly before she climbed the stairs to her office. She’d already drafted a letter of offer to Mr Grace, which she printed out.

  Satisfied she had all her documents in order, she walked purposefully to his house at the edge of the village. Luckily, he was in the garden doing a bit of weeding.

  ‘Hello there, Róisín dear.’

  ‘Hi Mr Grace,’ she said. ‘Sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if I might have a few moments of your time?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘As a matter of fact you’ve saved me a trip. I was planning to drop over to you today.’

  ‘Oh good,’ she said. They sat on a rickety old bench in his garden and Róisín took a deep breath.

  ‘You know the letter you delivered a short while back? Well, it got me thinking. I would like to make you an offer to buy the building.’

  ‘Oh,’ he said looking surprised. ‘I see.’

  ‘Before you say anything, I’ve done my homework.’

  ‘You have?’

  ‘Yes,’ Róisín said. ‘I’ve had the place valued and I’ve gone to the bank and had a loan approved. I know you are under pressure to provide for your family, so I thought this would be the best-case scenario for both of us.’ She held out the large envelope with the documents. ‘Would you consider my offer?’ she asked, feeling suddenly vulnerable.

  ‘OK,’ he said slowly. He opened the envelope and slid out her carefully prepared pages. He glanced down at the bottom line and sighed. ‘I’m really sorry, Róisín, I truly am, but I’m afraid it’s nowhere near what the other investor is offering. As I said, this other offer blew me out of the water. I’d be an old fool to turn it down.’

  ‘But what about Nourriture?’ she asked weakly. ‘What about … me …’

  ‘I’m so sorry. But what would you do in my position?’

  ‘Yes, I guess you’re right,’ she said feeling ill. ‘I’ll go now Mr Grace, if you don’t mind. I was so sure it would work out for both of us … I’m sorry for wasting your time … When do I need to be out?’

  ‘You have another two months of your lease.’

  Róisín nodded weakly and walked away. The footpath blurred as she tried to control her emotions.

  On autopilot, she arrived at Nourriture. Standing a few yards from the door, she looked at the tables in the tiny space across the road, under the old tree. She stared at the building, with its lovingly tended hanging baskets with bright flowers. She really loved this place.

  She went into the shop behind a family who hurried to the smoothie counter. The smell of fresh baking embraced. Looking around the shop as if for the first time, she put her hand on one of the beautifully crafted wooden tables and walked on into the off licence section. She’d had a vision in her head, nurtured it and it had come to fruition. This place was her baby. The nearest thing she could muster to a baby. It was more than her livelihood, this place was her very own creation. Numbly she answered Brigid’s questions and then walked up the back stairs to her tiny office. She felt so alone. Without really thinking, she took her box of cards from the shelf and pulled out the one that had arrived on her sixteenth birthday, searching for inspiration.

  My darling girl

  Sixteen is one of those ages I remember clearly. I didn’t know which end was up. I hated anyone who treated me like a baby, but deep down inside, I was petrified of being a grown-up too.

  I didn’t know it at the time, but the most important person in my life when I was your age was my mother. I fought with her, rolled my eyes at most things she said and genuinely treated her like a fool, most of the time. When I think about it, it makes me blush. She was doing what all good mothers do, you see. She was loving me unconditionally. She still had my back and still adored me, even if I was thoroughly dislikeable! Why? Because that’s what mothers do. That’s what family is all about. Your people are the ones who will stick by you through thick and thin. They’re the ones who will always come back for more: whether it’s love or a shouting match! They’re the ones who can truly forgive and forget.

  I don’t want to sound all preachy and square because I’m actually asking you to do what I didn’t do at your age. But my excuse is that I didn’t have someone cool to put me straight. Yes, I am cool. I have dyed hair, a nose ring and far too many piercings in my ears. I wear too much liquid eyeliner and I can’t fathom going out in public without some sort of nail polish! Share your worries with someone you trust. I wish I’d opened up more. Knowing how I feel about you, my beautiful girl, there is nothing you could say or do that would make me think you are anything but amazing. I can’t be there to hold you or advise you or help you when you’re struggling, but I’ll tell you a secret: a mother’s love is always there. Mine will never die. I may not be there physically, but I’ll be there somehow.

  Happy 16th birthday darling. Make a wish and blow it on the breeze. I’ll do my best to catch it.

  I love you.

  Mam

  Although Róisín had read these cards so many times, she felt that many of them were only beginning to make sense to her now. Share your worries. Her mother was right. She really couldn’t do it alone, that’s what she had to accept.

  She grabbed her car keys, ran down the stairs and drove like a bat out of hell towards the B&B. She needed to talk to her parents about France, about Nourriture and about all the thoughts that were tumbling around in her mind.

  Her heart stopped when she pulled up and saw her mother. She was leaning against the outside wall of the house, crying openly.

  ‘Mum!’ she said rushing to hug her. ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘Liv just phoned,’ she said. ‘She was crying uncontrollab
ly and said she wishes she was dead.’

  ‘What?’ Róisín was in shock. ‘What’s going on? Do you think she’s suffering with depression or something?’

  ‘I asked her that,’ Keeley said. ‘But she assured me it’s nothing like that. She said she didn’t want to discuss it while she’s in hospital.’

  ‘Do you believe her?’ Róisín asked. ‘It would make sense in a way … her house is a tip and she’s not managing with the children … maybe that’s the reason.’

  ‘She’s adamant that’s not it. Don’t say it to your father,’ Keeley said, ‘I didn’t want to worry him. But Liv wasn’t asleep when I went in to visit her this morning.’

  ‘Oh?’

  ‘She was awake, but she barely spoke to me, Róisín. She was so low. Nothing I said seemed to be helping so I asked if she’d prefer to be left alone. She nodded, so I gave her a kiss and left. She never asked about the children or anything.’ Keeley sighed. ‘I’m so worried about her. I feel so helpless. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it all better for her.’

  ‘Come on, Mum,’ she said gently. ‘Let’s go inside and have some tea and figure it out.’

  She knew now was not the time to off-load on her poor parents, no matter how badly she needed their help and guidance.

  Chapter 24

  Rob was packing the van to go on a delivery when Theresa arrived unannounced.

  ‘Hello sweetie!’ She sidled over to him in sky-high heels, trussed in a tight bandage dress. Her blonde hair was styled in perfect waves and she battled to keep it from blowing in the breeze.

  ‘Hi,’ he said fixing a smile on his face. ‘How’s it going? I was about to head off.’

  ‘I was wondering if you’d managed to get tickets to the lunch in the Hilton hotel for Friday?’ she asked. ‘I really want to go.’

  ‘Oh,’ he said, clicking his fingers. ‘I totally forgot. To be honest, I can’t afford to spend the guts of a day fluting about in a hotel. Why don’t you get some of the girls to go?’

  ‘They are,’ she pouted. ‘But they all have their hunky fiancés and husbands escorting them.’ She stared at him beseechingly as she said the word fiancé.

  ‘Let me look at my schedule and I’ll let you know,’ he said.

  ‘OK cool. I’ll wait here,’ she said.

  ‘Do you need me to do it this second?’

  ‘Well yes,’ she said looking astonished. ‘This is a big deal, Rob. Everyone who is anyone will be at this. We need to keep in with the right crowd.’

  It was at the tip of his tongue to say that he didn’t give a toss about impressing anyone. He had no issue with donating to a charity, but he couldn’t bear the thought of drinking all afternoon at a table of show-offs. That’s what all the men were like in Theresa’s gang. Each one was more mouthy than the next. They were more along the lines of Gordon, he thought suddenly. Róisín came into his mind. With her quirky tutu skirts and her pretty dark hair and those flashing blue eyes … she was effortlessly stylish and totally unique, whereas Theresa and her ‘girls’ were like clones of one another. Guilt washed over him as he looked up at her. She was standing clutching her stupidly expensive handbag, blinking at him hopefully.

  He grabbed his appointment book and riffled through the pages. ‘I have a few things on. But I suppose I could move them,’ he said.

  ‘You’re so funny with your big clumpy book,’ she said. ‘You need to start using your smartphone properly and get rid of paper. It’s so ten years ago.’

  ‘I find this the most efficient way of planning my appointments,’ he said. ‘Once it’s written there in black and white, I can work best.’

  ‘So you’ll come?’ she asked, making it clear she had no interest in his work.

  ‘I guess.’

  ‘Great stuff.’ She rose onto her tippy-toes to kiss him. ‘And are you planning on treating me to the ticket?’

  ‘Eh, yeah. Sure … how much?’

  ‘They’re one hundred and eighty euros each,’ she said. ‘But they’re in short supply so I was lucky to reserve them.’

  He grabbed his cheque book and scribbled out the amount. She took it gleefully and stashed it in her handbag with a smile. Not too against paper when it’s in the form of a cheque, he thought crossly.

  After Theresa left, Rob found himself comparing her to Róisín in every way. In his wildest dreams he couldn’t imagine Róisín sitting at one of those lunches for the afternoon. Nor would she be interested in the babble that went with it. Clearly she and her family were on board with fund-raising and helping others, but they did it in a far less pretentious way. In Rob’s opinion they did it in a more inclusive manner – and in the right way.

  He wasn’t due to go to Ballyshore for another few weeks. That was a shame. He’d thoroughly enjoyed the other night. Róisín had made him laugh so much when she’d described some of the things Gordon came out with.

  At the same time, there was something guarded and a little bit sad about Róisín, too. She was dynamic and full of business ideas, but she was one of those girls who seemed to prefer being single. She certainly didn’t suffer with a lack of male attention, that was for sure. Several guys, including a poor fella called Colm, had made fairly obvious advances at the party. But she gave them all short shrift.

  ‘None of these are your type, then?’ he’d teased her as yet another suitor walked away empty-handed. ‘So what is your type?’

  ‘At this stage, I don’t actually know,’ she’d replied thoughtfully. ‘I used to think I knew. But I was so wrong it’s astonishing. So I’m concentrating on the part of my life that I seem to be slightly better at. That’s work, in case you don’t know …’

  ‘I can see that you’re very good at that,’ he’d said. ‘But it’s a shame that a gorgeous girl like you doesn’t have someone to go home to at night.’

  ‘Ah cheers,’ she’d said. ‘You’re kind. Theresa is a lucky girl!’

  He couldn’t get that comment out of his head. Had she meant Theresa was lucky because she sort of liked him too, or just that Theresa was lucky because he was kind?

  He was realising that Róisín was everything he was looking for in a woman. She was savvy, smart, independent and beautiful. He felt he could tell her anything. They were on the same wavelength … that was it. He and Theresa were on two different planets. All the things she adored seemed silly to him and he knew his interests bored her senseless. How could he propose to a girl he couldn’t connect with?

  He walked back toward the van and saw his dad coming towards him, his old dog shadowing him as usual.

  ‘Are you off now, son?’

  ‘I’ve a few deliveries to make. I won’t be away overnight though.’

  ‘No worries at all. I have my bridge club coming. I’ll give them a bit of dinner too, so if you’re home you’re welcome to join us?’

  ‘Thanks for that Dad, but I might leave you to it. You’re all a bit rowdy for me!’

  His dad chuckled and shook his head. ‘You’d think it was a nice civilised idea for an evening, but it nearly always turns into a loud affair.’

  ‘No harm done,’ Rob said. ‘I’ll see you later on.’

  ‘Was that Theresa I saw you chatting to just now?’ Melvin asked.

  ‘Yup,’ Rob said. ‘She’s getting us tickets for the big luncheon on Friday. It’ll be a great day by all accounts.’

  ‘Is it me or yourself you’re trying to convince?’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  ‘I’ve been watching you,’ Melvin said. ‘I don’t think I was being fair when I tried to bamboozle you into getting engaged.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘I want to see you happy and settled. I’m hanging out for grandchildren but the more I sit back and observe you, the more I wonder about you and Theresa. She’s a lovely young one, no doubt about it, but you don’t light up when you see her.’

  Later Rob thought about his father’s words. His thoughts were slowly beginning to join up. When he’d believed
the rest of the world thought he and Theresa were a match made in heaven, it felt as if he might be able to convince himself some day too. But now that he’d had this revelation about Róisín and his dad had changed his mind about Theresa as well, Rob felt as if he’d been tossed a life-ring.

  Now that he thought it through, his mates had never actually said they thought he and Theresa were suited either. Sure, they made lurid comments about her and clapped him on the back, saying he was a stud, but that was all superficial stuff. She was a babe and there was no denying that, but Róisín was more beautiful in his eyes. Anyway, he thought with irritation, looks had nothing to do with it. It was how people connected that really mattered, right?

  Did girls think the same way as guys, though? Would Róisín be knocked off her feet if he looked more like Jamie Dornan? Rob wished he had a female he could talk to. Not for the first time, he wished his mother was here. He didn’t have a woman’s perspective on things and it made him miss her with fresh grief.

  Chapter 25

  Nell couldn’t quite believe how much Mouse had come on in the space of a few days.

  ‘Well it’s not as if I have much else to do,’ she said. ‘I can do twelve hours a day of reading and writing if I want.’

  ‘I understand that,’ Nell said. ‘But you’re really grasping it all so well. That’s no easy feat, you know? You’re a very bright girl.’

  ‘Cheers!’

  ‘Can you show me the writing you’ve just finished?’ Nell asked. She felt a lump in her throat as she stared at the work. The first few pages of the book were certainly in the drunk spider camp. But the latest piece of work was quite frankly brilliant.

  ‘It looks like it was written by a different person,’ Nell said. ‘Look at the difference.’

  They were busy sounding out a longer word, as Nell nodded in encouragement, when the front door opened.

  ‘Only me!’ Mo shouted. ‘Hello girls?’

  ‘In the kitchen,’ Nell shouted.

  ‘I have the most exciting thing,’ Mo said as she bustled in. ‘Look, Mouse! You’re in the Ballyshore People!’